Tips for creating the perfect, well balanced cheese board
The Cheese: stick to three to five main cheeses, five being the absolute max. Any more than that and the cheese will overwhelm the board—and the people eating it. If you’re going for the wow factor of a large board, go for two or three wedges of the same type of cheese scattered throughout the board to make it look super full. I’ve found that for smaller parties, three cheeses seems to be the number, but for parties like Thanksgiving and Christmas, I go for all five of my favorites: sharp cheddar or merlot, goat, Mimolette, blue, and burrata.
The Spreads: every cheese board needs something sweet to spread on crackers or bread, such as honey, honeycomb, or fruit jam
Fresh Fruits: fruits are a must because they add color, texture and flavor, they also pair well with all cheese. The sweetness in the fruit contrasts the saltiness of the cheese. My favorites are fresh figs, persimmons, pomegranates, and grapes.
Olives and Nuts: olives, roasted salted nuts, and seeds are a great addition to any board. Their salty, fruity flavor pairs so well with most cheeses.
Meats: meats are an essential part of any cheese board, as they add a layer of richness. My three favorites are fresh prosciutto, pepperoni, and salami. You cannot go wrong with this combo.
Crackers and Bread: you’ll need some toasted breads and or crackers on the board to eat alongside all that cheese!
Once I gave my little speech, I set everyone off with my favorite Beck Cheese Board and 3 Gold Cheese Knives Set and let them build their boards. We each created something a little different based on the cheese, spreads, and meats we all love most. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.
What I love about this idea is that it’s not only perfect for a fun lunch with friends, but you can take this idea and and apply it to holiday entertaining as well. Simply create one giant cheese board surrounded by smaller boards, or pieces of slate, for each of your guests to use. Then allow guests to build their own cheese boards comprised of all their favorites. Simple, fun and delicious! Such a great reason to gather with friends, get creative and share delicious food and drink!